-19-

Cross felt a cup being placed in his hand.

"What's this?" He asked, cupping his palms around it and allowing its heat to warm up his cold hands.
          
"It's tea. You don't look so well," Black said.

Cross held it to his mouth and was about taking a sip when he stopped.  "How do I know that it's not poisoned?"

He heard Black chuckle.
           
"I told you Cross, I didn't bring you here to kill you."

He held the cup to his lips, hesitated for a moment before taking a small sip. "Why are you doing all of this?"
          
"Are we going to have this conversation again?" Black asked. "I told you yesterday, I just wanna tell you a story."
     
"Why?"
        
"Drink the tea."
      
"What kind of story—"
      
"I said drink your tea!"

Cross flinched and took a sip.

After a short while, when he was done drinking the tea, he felt the cup being taken out of his hand.
         
"Tell me something Cross, do you believe in love?"
         
"Love?"
       
"Yeah. Do you believe in it?"
           
"Y...yeah. Yeah I do."
           
"Really?"
     
"Yeah."
          
"Well for a heart breaker like you, I would never have pegged you as someone who does."

Cross's forehead creased. "Do you go to YES?"
    
"That's not important."
        
"Your voice—"

"Don't try to figure out who I am Cross, you couldn't identify me the first time. I don't think you ever will."
        
"But I think I know you."
       
"Of course you do." Black said.
       
"Are—"
       
"Enough of all that." Black cut in sharply. "Let's continue the story. But don't worry Cross, by the time I end this story, you would have already found out who I am."
      
"Will you set me free at the end?"
        
"That actually depends on you."
      
"How?"
     
"You'll see. Urgh!" Black exclaimed. "Just shut up and let me continue!"

Short moment of silence.
      
"What is your definition of love Cross?"
      
"Love? Um..."
      
"Uhuh?"
  
"I think...I think love is when someone has a deep feeling for another  and would do anything for that person. When...when..."
       
"Go on."
        
"When you love someone, you want nothing more than for them to be truly happy no matter what it takes, because—"

"Because?"
       
"Because that’s how much you care about them and because their needs come before your own."

Black clapped slowly.
     
"Wow, that's very impressive Cross, to be honest. You are surprising me so much today..and actually making things very easy. I'm genuinely impressed. Anyway Cross, tell me again, do you believe in justice?"

He nodded.
       
"Yes."
        
"What about equality. Do you believe in that too?"
         
"Yes."
        
"I see. Well then, I think you're ready to listen to the story now. Would you like another cup of tea before I begin?"
     
"No, I'm fine."
       
"Okay. Let's begin."

Silence.
      
"You see Cross, in a very small town not so far away, a poor widow lived with her two children. Two twins." Black began. "They were poor, had not a penny to their name. But they were happy. They were content with what they had. Never wished for more. Never yearned for more. They were happy right where they were. Which names do you wanna give to the twins?"   
         
"Me?"
           
"Yeah."
               
"Were they both boys?"
              
"No. Two girls."
              
"Ermm, Emma and...no, Iris and Ivy."
              
"Iris and Ivy?"

He nodded.
             
"Okay. So Iris and Ivy lived with their mother in a tiny house and do you wanna know what makes this story very interesting?" Black asked but didn't wait for Cross to reply. "The love Ivy and Iris had for each other. They were like sand and stones, one inseparable block of concrete."
              
"Did they look alike?" Cross asked.
               
"Yeah, actually they did...and no one except their mother could tell the difference between them."
                
"And everything was good," Black continued, "everything was fine. Until—"

Long pause of silence.
                 
"Until what?" Cross asked.
            
"Well that's the cliffhanger for this chapter. I think I've said enough for today."
                
"What? You just even started."
                
"No need for the rush Cross, we have all the time in the world. Don't worry, tomorrow is just another day, I promise."